MSK- Posterior Compartment of the Thigh, Popiliteal Fossa, and Posterior Compartment of the Leg

Question 1

sciatic nerve

Answer 1

composed of the tibial and common fibular divisions

Question 2

long head of the biceps femoris muscle

Answer 2

Proximal Attachment: ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Head of the fibula
Innervation: tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend the thigh; flex and laterally rotates leg

Question 3

tibial division of the sciatic nerve

Answer 3

The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus

Question 4

short head of the biceps femoris muscle

Answer 4

Proximal Attachment: linea aspera (of the femur)
Distal Attachment: Head of the fibula
Innervation: common fibular nerve
Action: Extend the thigh; flex and laterally rotates leg

Question 5

semitendinosus muscle

Answer 5

Proximal Attachment: Ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Medial part of proximal tibia
Innervation: Tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend thigh; flex and medially rotate leg

Question 6

semimembranosus muscle

Answer 6

Proximal Attachment: Ischial tuberosity
Distal Attachment: Medial condyle of tibia
Innervation: Tibial division of the sciatic nerve
Action: Extend thigh; flex and medially rotate leg

Question 7

common fibular division of the sciatic nerve

Answer 7

It descends obliquely along the lateral side of the popliteal fossa to the head of the fibula, close to the medial margin of the biceps femoris muscle

Question 8

popliteal fossa

Answer 8

Superolateral - biceps femoris muscle
Superomedial - semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles
Inferolateral and inferomedial - the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle
Posterior - skin and deep (popliteal) fascia
Anterior - popliteal surface of the femur, the posterior surface of the capsule of the knee joint, and the popliteus muscle

Question 9

common fibular nerve

Answer 9

division of the sciatic nerve; the common fibular nerve parallels the biceps femoris tendon and passes superficial to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle

Question 10

medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle

Answer 10

Proximal Attachment: medial condyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; flexes leg at knee joint

Question 11

lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle

Answer 11

Proximal Attachment: lateral condyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; flexes leg at knee joint

Question 12

plantaris muscle

Answer 12

Proximal Attachment: Lateral side of distal femur
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Weak plantarflexion

Question 13

popliteal artery

Answer 13

The popliteal artery is a deeply placed continuation of the femoral artery after it passes through the adductor hiatus, or opening in the distal portion of the adductor magnus muscle. It courses through the popliteal fossa and ends at the lower border of the popliteus muscle, where it branches into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 14

popliteal vein

Answer 14

As it ascends through the fossa, it crosses behind the popliteal artery so that it comes to lie on its lateral side. It passes through the opening in the adductor magnus to become the femoral vein

Question 15

popliteus muscle

Answer 15

Proximal Attachment: Lateral epicondyle of femur
Distal Attachment: Posterior surface of proximal tibia
Innervation: Tibial Nerve
Action: unlocks extended knee

Question 16

pes anserinus

Answer 16

Pes anserinus (“goose foot”) refers to the conjoined tendons of three muscles that insert onto the anteromedial (front and inside) surface of the proximal extremity of the tibia. The muscles are the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus

Question 17

crural fascia

Answer 17

the investing fascia of the lower limb (goes down the entire posterior leg)- for our purposes: the crural fascia goes from the popliteal fossa to the calcaneus and once opened exposes the posterior compartment of the leg

Question 18

calcaneal tendon

Answer 18

aka. Achilles tendon; attaches to the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris; inserts into the calcaneus bone; plantarflexion of the foot

Question 19

soleus muscle

Answer 19

Proximal Attachment: Soleal line of the tibia and proximal fibula
Distal Attachment: Calcaneal tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle

Question 20

tendon of the plantaris muscle

Answer 20

plantaris has small muscle and very long tendon; longest tendon in the human body- innervated by the tibial nerve

Question 21

posterior tibial artery

Answer 21

The posterior tibial artery of the lower limb carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery via the tibial-fibular trunk. It is accompanied by a deep vein, the posterior tibial vein, along its course

Question 22

anterior tibial artery

Answer 22

The anterior tibial artery of the leg carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot, from the popliteal artery

Question 23

interosseous membrane

Answer 23

interosseous membrane of the leg extends between the interosseous crests of the tibia and fibula, helps stabilize the Tib-Fib relationship and separates the muscles on the front from those on the back of the leg

Question 24

flexor digitorum longus

Answer 24

Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of tibia
Distal Attachment: Phalanges of toes 2-5
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Flexes toes 2-5; plantarflexes ankle (weakly)

Question 25

flexor hallucis longus

Answer 25

Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of fibula
Distal Attachment: Great toe
Innervation: Tibial nerve
Action: Flexes great toe; weakly plantarflexes ankle

Question 26

tibialis posterior

Answer 26

Proximal Attachment: Posterior surface of tibia and fibula
Distal Attachment: Medial aspect of the foot
Innervation: tibial nerve
Action: Plantarflexes ankle; inverts foot

Question 27

flexor retinaculum

Answer 27

a strong fibrous band, extending from the bony ankle prominence (malleolus) above, to the margin of the heelbone (calcaneus) below, converting a series of bony grooves in this situation into canals for the passage of the tendons of the flexor muscles and the posterior tibial vessels and tibial nerve into the sole of the foot

Question 28

fibular artery

Answer 28

essentially follows the fibula bone all the way down the leg; supplies blood to the lateral compartment of the leg. It arises from the tibial-fibular trunk